Jockey optimistic about chances with Bodemeister

Jockey Mike Smith arrived full of confidence at Pimlico on Friday. And why not? He will ride Morning Line favorite Bodemeister out of the No. 7 gate in the Preakness.

"As we all know, so many things can happen in a race, but if given the opportunity, this horse is extremely talented," he said. "I think he can win, without doubt. Impressively as well, if he gets to run his race."

Asked if there was a faster horse in the race, Smith said there are few faster in the country.

"He's a fast horse and I'm not looking to take away what he does easy — or go around there in 49 and 1:12," Smith said. "He will run fast because he can, but that was a wicked pace going 11/4 th-miles.

Hamilton Smith waited his entire 36-year career to have a horse grace the gates of a Triple Crownrace.

The trainer, based out of Laurel Park got that shot two weeks ago in the Kentucky Derby. After Done Talking won the Illinois Derby in early April, Smith entered him in the first leg of the Triple Crown two weeks ago.

"Well, it meant a lot," Smith said Friday. "Just to have a horse [at Churchill Downs] is exciting in itself, but to have one run in the Derby is special."

Done Talking will run Saturday at Pimlico in the James W. Murphy, on the Preakness undercard. It is a mile race, on turf.

"Done Talking seems to be doing fine. Coming out of such a big race, it takes a lot out of the horse," said jockey Sheldon Russell, who rode the horse at the Kentucky Derby. "When he came back to Maryland he was training aggressively and eating well. I'm excited to ride him [Saturday] ."

Sagamore Farm's Millionreasonswhy finishes second

Millionreasonswhy finished second in the Miss Preakness to even-money favorite Agave Kiss in the eighth race of the day Friday.

The horse is a product of Plank's Sagamore Farm. He is trained by Ignacio Correas IV, who will saddle Tiger Walk in Saturday's Preakness.

"She's a hard trying filly," Sagamore general manager Tom Mullikan said. "I didn't like the trip. You can't let a horse like the winner get away like that. Millionreasonswhy just had too much to make up."

National Volleyball League opens up at Pimlico

The National Volleyball League is opening its 2012 season with a $50,000 tournament at Pimlico Race Course.

The defending Olympic gold medalists, Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, made their domestic debuts Friday against Dave Keeter and Michael Rupp. The duo advanced to the semifinals Saturday with two wins.